Lock switch



March 11, 1930. I

H. E. NORVIEL LOCK SWITCH Filed Aug. 1927 Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY E. NORVIEL, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO DELCO-REMY CORPORA- TION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE LOCK SWITCH Application filed August 5, 1927.

This invention relates to devices for preventing the theft of an automotive vehicle, and more particularly to key controlled apparatus for rendering the ignition apparatus of the engine inoperative.

One object of the present invention is to provide a key controlled device by means of which the ignition timer may be grounded and at the same time disconnected from the ignition coil. Another object is to construct and arrange the ignition controlling device so that the ground connection thereof is difficult to be removed, and removal of the ground connection without the key to render the ignition apparatus operative will require a considerable length of time.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in section showing parts of a switch and an ignition timer equipped with a form of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front view of the switch shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View of the ignition timer on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the switch on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 26 is an ignition timer housing of the usual form covered by distributor cap 21 and supporting within it a breaker lever bracket 22 carrying a stud 23 providing a pivot for a breaker lever 24. Lever 24 carries a contact 25 engageable with a contact 26 attached to a breaker lever brack: et 27. A rivet 28 secures to the breaker lever one end of a spring 29 and an L-shaped rubbing block 30 adapted to engage a cam 31 rotatably supported by the timer. The spring 29 is connected at its other end with a terminal bolt 32 insulatingly supported by the timer cup and clamped thereto by nuts 33. The spring 29 is biased for moving the lever 24 toward the cam 31. It is therefore apparent that the bolt 32 provides the insulated Serial No. 210,904.

terminal of the timer, which, when the ignition circuit is opened, is grounded upon some metallic part of the automobile, such as the engine frame, which provides the ground connection to the current source.

As shown in Fig. 4, the insulated terminal connected with the timer contact 25 is connected by means to be described with the switch stationary contact mounted upon an insulating base 41. The base 41 carries a grounded contact 42 and a contact 43 connected with an ignition primary coil 44 which is connected with a battery 45 grounded at 46. The block 41 is enclosed by a metallic case which is permanently attached to a lock frame 51 having a flange 52 which is engaged by the case 50. The lock frame 51 supports a key shaft 53 which is turned by the proper key 54. The key shaft 53 insulatingly supports a movable contact 55 having fingers 56 and 57 engageable with the stationary contacts of the switch. lVhen the switch is turned off, the fingers 56 and 57 will engage the contact 42 and 40, respectively, as shown in Fig. 4 in order that the ignition timer will be connected with ground. Therefore the timer will be rendered useless although the ignition coil 44 might be connected with it. If the key shaft 53 is turned in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, the contact 55 will be moved so that its fingers 56 and 57 will engage contacts 40 and 43 respectively, toconnect the ignition timer with the ignition coil and to remove the ground connection of the insulated terminal 32. The shaft 53 is located in the two positions of operation by a detent plate 60' having holes 61 and 62 for receiving a ball 63 urged by a spring 64 against the plate 60.

The ignition lock switch is mounted upon an instrument board 7 O in such a manner that it cannot be readily removed from the instrument board. One manner of accomplishing this is to attach it to the bracket of a lighting switch such as disclosed in the copending application of Harry E. Norviel, Serial No. 198,328 filed June 13, 1927. This switch comprises a mounting bracket 71 having hook ears 72 for engaging angle irons 7 3 which are attached to the back of the instrument board 70. A bezel ring 74 secures to the bracket 71 a dial plate 75, and the ring extends through a suitable aperture in the instrument board 70. The automobile lighting switch will not be described in this application, but it will be understood that it .is operated by the handle 7 6 extending in front of the dial plate 75. Before the switch is assembled, the key frame 51 is attached to the bracket 71 by screws 77, the heads of which are concealed within the space between the bracket 71 and the dial plate 75. It is therefore apparent that when the switch is mounted upon an instrument board of an automobile, the thief will have considerable difiiculty in unfastening the ignition switch from the instrument board. In fact he will have considerable diflicnlty in removing the ignition lighting switch assembly from the instrument board especially in installations where the back of the board is crowded with apparatus making removal of the switch difficult except with special tools. The connection between the switch and the ignition timer cannot be removed conveniently from the ignition timer unless the ignition switch be removed from the instrument board or unless the ignition timer be unfastened from the engine frame, which act would cause demeshing of the gears which connect the engine cam shaft with the cam shaft of the timer and would thus upset the time relation between the ignition timer and the engine.

The connection between the ignition switch and ignition timer will now be described. This connection comprises a wire 80 which is soldered within the ignition switch to a tubular rivet 81 connected by a strap 82 with the contact 40. The wire passes through a flexible armored conduit of hard ,metal 83 attached at one end to a hard metal sleeve 84 connected with the switch case .50 and attached at the other end to a hard metal sleeve 85 supporting with it an insulating body 86 having a recess 87 for receiving a conductor 88 to which the wire 80 is permanently attached by soldering or by using a metal plug 89. The conductor 88 is provided with a threaded shank 90 which extends through the body 86 to provide .a connection with a condenser 91 shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. The conductor 88 is provided with a tapped hole in alignment with a larger hole 92 in the insulating body 86 which is in alignment with a hole 93 in the side of the sleeve 85.

Before the ignition switch is attached to the instrument board, and the timer to the engine frame, the assembly of igniton switch, armored casing 83 and parts attached thereto, is first connected with the ignition timer housing 20 by introducing the threaded one another so that the bolt 32 will be screwed into the conductor. After this is done, the tube 85 may be held in definite position relative to the timer by a strap 95 secured to the housing 20 by screws 96. Thus the ignition switch and connection assembly is mechanically attached to the housing 20 so that it can not be removed therefrom without considerable ditliculty and consumption of quite some time as would be required as in removing the ignition timer from the engine frame and disconnecting it from the engine cam shaft. After this connection has been made between the terminal bolt 32 and the conductor 88 the timer is attached to'the engine frame and isproperly connected with the engine cam shaft. The ignition switch is attached to the lighting switch bracket 71. After'completing the assembly of the lighting switch, it is attached to the instrument board 70.

It is therefore apparent from the foregoing description that a key must be used to turn the ignition switch into position for breaking the ground connection between the ignition timer and for connecting the ignition timer with the ignition coil. lVhen the switch is locked the ignition coil and battery are disconnected from the timer and the insulated terminal of the timer is grounded. It is-apparent that it would do no good to connect another ignition coil with the ignition timer unless the contact bracket 27 be made the nongrounded terminal by insulating it from the timer housing. This operation would consume much time and would require special tools.

The ground connection cannot be easily interrupted without first cutting through the hard metal armored parts 83, 84 or 85, or by destroying the ignition switch which is very inaccessible, or without first removing either the ignition switch from the instrument board or the ignition timer from the engine frame as explained, either one of which would consume more time than the thief cares to spend in getting the automobile in condition to be moved. In view of these conditions, it is apparent that considerable time would be required an unauthorized person to render the ignition system of the engine operative after it has beenlocked.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

WVhat is claimed is as follows:

a 1. Theft-preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising, in combination, an ignition lock switch, an ignition timer having a threaded terminal member, a wire armor, connected with the lock switch and communicating with its case, an electric conductor insulatingly supported within the armor adj acent its other end and having threaded means cooperating with the threaded terminal to provide for connecting the conductor and terminal by bodily rotating the timer and the armor relative to each other, a wire connected with said conductor and extending through the armor and connected within the switch case with one of the switch contacts, said switch having means for grounding said wire when in the ignition-circuit open position.

2. Theft-preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising, in combination, an ignition timer having an insulated terminal, a conductor having connections with the timer terminal requiring bodily rotation of the one relative to the other to disengage: the conductor from the said terminal, a wire armor including at one end a member enclosing said' conductor and insulated therefrom, a lock switch having a case connected with the other end of the wire armor and having an insulated contact within the case, a wire extending through the armor and connecting the contact and conductor, said switch having provisions for connecting the wire with ground when in off position.'

3. Theft-preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising, in combination, an ignition lock switch, an ignition timer having a threaded terminal member, an armored conductor connecting the timer and switch and having threaded means cooperating with the threaded terminal to provide for connecting the timer and conductor by bodily rotation of the one relative to the other and to ground the ignition unit through the conductor when the ignition circuit is in open condition.

4. Theft-preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising, in combination, an ignition lock switch, an ignition timer having a threaded terminal member, an armored connector between the switch and timer, said connector providing an insulated conductor at one end for engagement with the said terminal member, and also providing a binding post for connection to an electrical conductor and means to hold the timer and conductor in definite connected relation.

5. Theft-preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising, in combination, an ignition timer'having an insulated terminal, a conductor having connections with the timer terminal comprising a terminal bolt outwardly directed through the wall of the timer housing and insulatingly securing the breaker lever spring thereto, lock nuts on the extended portion of the terminal bolt to secure the said bolt against movement, said conductor being threaded upon the extended portion of the terminal bolt beyond the lock nuts, and armored means enclosing said connection to prevent ready access to the ignition circuit of the automobile.

6. Theft-preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising, in combination, an ignition timer having an insulated terminal, a

conductor having connections with the timer terminal, said connection comprising a terminal bolt passing outwardl through the timer housing, lock nuts rigidfy securing the terminal bolt to the housing, said conductor being insulatingly supported within an armored casing and threaded onto the terminal bolt, and means embracing said armored connection and securing it to the timer casing to prevent ready access to the connection.

7. Theft-preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising, in combination, an ignition lock switch, an ignition timer having a threaded terminal member, a bracket adapted to be supported at the back of an instrument board, screws passing through the bracket for attaching the lock switch to the bracket, and means cooperating with the bracket to enclose the heads of the screws, said means being removable only after the bracket has been removed from the instrument board, and an armored conductor electrically connecting the lock switch with the terminal member to prevent ready access to the ignition circuit.

8. Theft-preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising, in combination, an ignition timer having an insulated terminal, a conductor having connections with the timer terminal and a lock switch, a mounting bracket for the switch, means for securing the switch case to the mounting bracket and means to which the bracket is secured for rendering inaccessible the means for securing the switch case to the mounting bracket.

9. Theft-preventing apparatus for automobiles comprising, in combination, an ignition unit, an ignition lock switch and an armored conductor connecting the switch and timer, said switch comprising a metallic case permanently attached to a lock frame and enclosing a non-conducting contact carrier, a

movable contact carrier supported by said lock frame, said conductor having connections with a contact on the non-conducting member, and said non-conducting member having provision for grounding a circuit through the conductor and ignition unit upon manipulation of the movable contact.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

HARRY E. NORVIEL. 

